Representations of politics often reveal either the best or worst of human nature.

In your
response, make detailed reference to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of
your own choosing.

“United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can
do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.”

54 years on after President John F. Kennedy uttered these illustrious words; they still resonate in the
psyches of world citizens, simply because the representation of politics carries that much of a
negative stigma even to this day. Henry Reynolds’ cerebral account and memoir ‘Why Weren’t We
Told?’ is a true embodiment of the suppression and disempowerment of the indigenous Australian
race, whose story is deliberately omitted from society while investigating the role of the government
in its deletion. Contrasting this concept is the 1961 Inaugural Address of former US President, John F.
Kennedy in which he reassures the continuity of the superpower that is the United States. Both texts
validate that political representations have the ability to convey the best and the worst of human
nature, while showcasing the stark contrast between two classes of governmental power.

Individuals of modernity are oblivious to the overwhelming supremacy of the political government,
which allows them to operate under the guise of a scapegoat and disguise and/or manipulate
historical events to ultimately marginalise the minority voice of the people. Henry Reynolds’
individual journey of Aboriginal discovery is documented through his acclaimed personal account,
‘Why Weren’t We Told’ in which he thoroughly explores the ignorance of his nations’ past actions.
Reynolds lived his entire life unaware of the Aboriginal mistreatment by European settlers in early
Australia, thus motivating him to embark on a pursuit for the truth.

Throughout his search, the author feels the need to understand alternative perspectives of
Aboriginal history and colonisation in order to unravel how and why a country would conceal reality
for so long. The repetition of the rhetorical question and book title, “Why Weren’t We Told?” reveals
Reynolds frustration of being left clueless to such a significant event in the country’s history and how
the government was so fixated on the idea to completely neglect the story of Indigenous Australians.
This is further supplemented through “Perhaps it was a matter of conscious and deliberate
avoidance of a desire to cover up the less appealing parts of the nation’s story”, it highlights the
discrepancies between widespread public opinion and its engagement with Australian governing
policies.

Upon his discovery of the maltreatment of Aborigines, he questions how Australians can go about
their lives, while overlooking this gaping hole in the country’s history. In “what is done is done and
should now be forgotten”, it thoroughly examines the conceptualised view of white Australians at
the time, believing that minority groups could not coexist in a homogenous society. Indigenous
rights were long regarded as a topic of civic interest but the government’s role in its diminishment
resulted in no factual information arising from it.

Reynolds learns of various idealised accounts of Aboriginal and White culture, desiring to understand
their stories in order develop his own perceptions as first hand perspectives have the ability to
stretch back generations. This is most evident within “The more experience I had of race relations,
the more pressing was the need to understand how things had come to be the way they were”. By
expanding his understanding of the matter, Reynolds advocates the need to appreciate and value
such a historic event and represent a voice that has been effectively disempowered for the better
part of half a century, a luxury that eluded Reynolds himself. Through deep exploration of the text, it
is abundantly clear that it is only through primary versions of the story that one can really separate
reality from political agenda, and in this case revealing the worst of human nature in the process.

In differing circumstances, political representations also have the capability to showcase

humanitarianism on a much larger scale. In a very contrasting approach to ‘Why Weren’t We Told’,
John F. Kennedy’s 1961 Inauguration Speech was a timeless event in which the former President
addressed the entire nation, calling for them to take personal responsibility and fulfil their duties as
citizens for their beloved country. Through the imperative device of “My fellow Americans, ask not
what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”, Kennedy attempts to
coalesce the populace by revealing his political agenda, representing the voice of the government
and making it clear that his sole responsibility was to protect his people.

In this way, he was truly able to instil a newfound perspective in the minds of Americans, revealing
how his speech of goodwill could restore the beliefs and values lost to an entire nation and display
the moral repercussions of political representation. Through the cumulative diction in “Let every
nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any
hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty”,
Kennedy again reasserts the people to stand by him in the wake of his presidency as he continues to
serve on behalf of the American citizens. This culminates in a confederacy between the government
powers and general population, further reinforcing how the depiction of politics can also reveal a
righteous side to human nature as well.

President Kennedy’s analogy of “In the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of
the tiger ended up inside”, he points out that the dictators abusing their power and threatening the
United States will undoubtedly be overthrown, inspiring the people to remain upbeat and optimistic
despite living in such a darkened period of history. His purpose was to act as the dominant voice and
unify the whole country by utilising his powerful positioning and providing a steady and firm sense of
security to a country that lacked political stability in its government ranks for such a long period of
time. Thus, revealing the recovering stage of humanity through a more profound representation of
people and politics.

Through Henry Reynolds ‘Why Weren’t We Told’, the exploration of Aboriginal history revealed a
corrupted governmental system. Unbeknownst to modern society, the political government
constructed their own subjective views of past events and directed history on a fabricated discourse
as a means of eradicating their transgressions from ever returning to condemn them. In John F.
Kennedy’s Inauguration Speech, he advocated the need to stand firm together in difficult
circumstances of adversity, bringing about the unification of an entire nation in the process.
Although both texts portray complementary sides of human nature, the fact of the matter is there
will always be positive or negative ramifications regarding politics. It is only how one uses or
represents their political power that can confirm if it reveals the best or worst of their human
nature.